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Subject:
First U.S. record of Tetranychus piercei in Florida

Date posted: September 22, 2005

Source:
UF/IFAS Pest Alert

Adult and immature specimens of the spider mite,Tetranychus piercei McGregor, were found in Dade County, Florida.This mite is closely related to the two-spotted spider mite, T. urticae, and is able to survive in a wide range of temperatures.Hosts of T. piercei include most types of tropical fruits including: banana (Musa spp.), palms (Palmae), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), papaya (Carica papaya), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), castor bean (Ricinus communis), common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), island snake-root (Polygala paniculata), and blue clitoria (Clitoria ternatea).This mite is a serious pest in parts of Asia and Oceania.